Need help buying new system!

[kregger]

Its time for me to get a new computer system. My poor ole 200 mhz just ain't doin' it for me any more. I can't decide whether I should go ahead and get one of the fastest systems(like a 1 ghz) or go with a moderate system(like a 700 to 900 mhz).

I don't ususally play games on my computer, but I want it to be able to handle them in case I ever decide to.

Also I don't know if I should go with a DVD-ROM or not. I definately want a CD-RW.

I'm thinking I'll probably get a Dell. But not sure.

Anyone got any suggestions?

 

[Shockwave]

Seriously?There isnt a good answer. If you get a fast system (900/ 1ghz+) you get very good speed and wont have to upgrade for a while. i would recommend DDR if you can afford it, but I dont see it as a big deal. But, you could get a 700 or 800 and overclock it to, oh, 900 or 1 gig. As for games, heck, a good video card will do you better then a fast processor. DVD I would consider a luxury. If you dont have the money right now, no biggy, put it off for later. If you have the extra money, its definitely a very nice option, especially if you have a good monitor. It depends how versatile you want your pc. If ALL you do is business type stuff, get a faster processor. If you want good all around usage, and arent on a budget, get fast cpu + 32 ddr video card (64 ddr is just too expensive right now). But, if you also want to watch the occasional movie on your pc, I would recommend getting a good DVD drive.

 

[kregger]

The cost won't be a problem. I don't want to spend a fortune. But I can spend what ever it takes to get a nice system.

I'll be buying a new printer and scanner, too. Out with the old and in with the new! hehe

Not sure what brands to buy. I went to Radio Shack. But I have a feeling the salesman was just trying to sell me the things that will get him the most commission.

I'll probably end up buying whatever I get online, if I can decide what I want.

 

[xtreme2k]

MSI K7T Pro2
AMD Tbird 900MHz+
256MB PC133 (cas2 perferably - but any PC133 will be fine)
Geforce 2 GTS 32MB or Radeon DDR (depends)
IBM 30GB 75GXP UltraATA100
SB Live Value
19" Flat Screen Monitor (whatever brand you like personally)
etcetc

 

[Stormblade]

Hey Kregger.

Here are my current system specs. Been changing them slightly but should be stable unless something big happens:

Case : SuperMicro Case (SC760-A)
CPU : AMD Athlon 1.2 Ghz
MB : Asus A7V Motherboard
Video : Asus AGP-V7700 Geforce2 GTS Deluxe (64 Meg DDR)
Memory : PC133 SDRAM DIMMS (256 megs+)
Monitor: Viewsonic 21" Monitor (Not sure which Model Yet Price req around
$600)
RAID : FastTrak100 ATA100, 7200 RPM
HD : IBM Deskstar 75GXP 45 Gig ( 2 of em to start off )
Sound : Sound Blaster Live Platnum 5.1
CDROM : Teac 40x CD-540
UPS : Smart UPS 1500


Case : http://www.supermicro.com/PRODUCT/Chassis/sc760A.htm
CPU : http://www.amd.com/products/cpg/athlon/index.html
MB : http://www.asus.com.tw/products/motherboard/socketa/a7v/
Video : http://www.asus.com.tw/products/addon/vga/agpv7700d/index.html
Memory : http://www.crucial.com
Monitor: http://www.viewsonic.com
RAID : http://www.promise.com/Products/ideraid/ft100page.htm
HD : http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/diskdrdl/prod/ds75gxp40gv.htm
Sound : http://www.creativelabs.com/sound/live-platinum-51/
CDROM : http://www.teac.com/dsp/cd/cd540.html
UPS : http://www.apc.com/resource/include...SU1400NET&language=EN&country_code=US

These prices are just ones I grabbed. Most likely you can find stuff cheaper but I was looking for a more worst case senerio. Also, notice that the monitor isn't here. That's because I'm not quite sure which model I'm going to get. I like Sony, Viewsonic and Acer. My current Sony has lasted me almost 5 years now and is going strong still. I will most likely go with Viewsonic but we'll see. I'll get that last most likely.

Hope this helps ya:

Prices:

Case : $150 (Invado)
CPU : $500 (AMD)
MB : $160 (GinStar)
Video : $350 (GinStar)
Memory : $200 (Crucial)
Monitor:
RAID : $86 (PriceWatch)
HD : $180 (PriceWatch)
Sound : $200 (Creative Labs)
CDROM : $100 (Best Buy)
UPS : $300 (GinStar)

 

[kregger]

Here's what I'm thinking of getting. Good? Bad?
Dimension® 4100 Series, Pentium® lll Processor, 1 GHz
Memory: 256MB 133MHz SDRAM
Keyboard: Microsoft® Natural® Keyboard Pro, Dell Edition For Windows ME
Monitor: 17" (16.0" viewable, .24-.25AG) P780 FD Trinitron® Monitor
Video Card: 32MB DDR ATI Radeon 4X AGP Graphics
Hard Drive: 40GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
Floppy Drive: 3.5" Floppy Drive
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® Millennium (Windows Me)
Modem: 3Com V.90/56K PCI Telephony Modem - Sound Option
DVD-ROM Drive: 12X DVD ROM Drive for 32MB DDR ATI Radeon Graphics
CD-RW DRIVE: 8x/4x/32x CD-RW, 2nd Bay
Sound Card: SB Live! Value Digital with Music Match Software
Speakers: Altec Lansing ACS-340 Speakers with Subwoofer
Limited Warranty and Service: 3 Years Next Business Day On-Site Parts and Labor
Price: $2,276.00

 

[Stormblade]

Personally I don't like pre-built machines from companies like Dell or Compaq. I'd get a laptop from them but not a desktop. Neither has impressed me with their quality.

Also, I wouldn't put an ATI anything in my system. I had bad experience with them. Sure they're hardware is awesome but they tend to do their own thing and I found myself very limited as to for example with the graphics card, games I could play using their features.

So I had a top quailty card I couldn't use. They also didn't impress me with their driver support.

Monitor is ok. Keyboard is fine if you're a typist and won't be playing many games. Not the best for games. I use a Microsoft Internet Keyboard and I like it alot.

Modem is ok except I don't like internals and wouldn't put one in my system.

 

[kregger]

I'm not smart enough to put a system together myself. hehe Maybe someday when I grow up. I'm only 30. hehe

The people that have stores here locally that do build them aren't smart enough either. I bought my last computer from one of those places. It has never worked correctly.

 

[John P]

Save some cash for yourself and get a Duron 750 and a Geforce 2 MX, that will be way more than you need right now. Spend the extra cash on a nice 19" or 21" monitor. Also, if you let us know what area you live in someone may be able to recommend a local computer shop to you.

 

[kregger]

I live in Morehead, KY

Anyone know a good website to find comparison charts? I've looked all over and can't find anything. Also anyone know a good place online to buy a system?

 

[nippyjun]

Build your own system, don't get a Dell.

 

[kregger]

Unfortunately I don't have any experience building systems.

 

[Impact55]

compucheap.com is run by a fellow AT elite member Russ. I'm sure he will help you meet your needs.

 

[GNY]

I second the compucheap.com Russ is great!!! He can fix you up

 

[TheNemesis]

i would go to compucheap.com instead of dell

 

[ElFenix]

micron offers athlon with DDR ram right now, prebuilt and all that. they're probably about the same as what it would cost to build one if you could get your hands on some DDR ram. check it out at micronpc

get the 19" monitor, don't go for the geforce ultra, another $200 is nuts. you can get a printer and scanner from them too, if you want.

 

[Stormblade]

Hmm. I went to that Micro Site and couldn't find a way to build from scratch. I'm sure I just missed the link but I saw their configs and went to change em but it doesn't let me do enough.

I wonder if they'll sell just the cpu and memory I didn't know they had MBs that supported the DDR memory yet.

 

[Rigoletto]

I do recommend a DVD, not so much for enjoying DVD films (though I do) but for not feeling like the guys who had to do with floppy disks on the cover of magazines when their chums got CDs.

 

[FreakyD]

Yikes, that Dell you priced was so expensive I'm left wondering how anyone would want one. Seriously if you're not ready to put together a system, you can always find a friend to do it for you, or a lot of local comp stores will do one for you for around $50 for the service, not too bad. It's better to get your own components though to avoid getting extras you don't need. Dell also seems to price upgrades at a lot more than they're actually worth, they're kind of a ripoff like that.. I noticed before they're charging a price to upgrade from 64 to 128 megs of memory that's just a little less than just buying 128 meg yourself!! I do like AMD better than Intel also, much better price/performance. You visit Anandtech enough, just look on one of their buyer guides, find a place that will assemble a comp for you with the components you pick and off ya go. www.c-computer.com is okay, they have a flat rate shipping, but their components aren't the cheapest.. but they will build your system for $29 so it's ready to go when you get it.

 

[kregger]

This is what I come up with at Micron PC for $2252.04:

AMD T-BIRD ATHLON 1200MHZ (200FSB)
256MB 200MHZ DDR SDRAM - 2 DIMMS
40GB ATA-100 HARD DRIVE (7200RPM)
8X4X32 CDRW W/1 CD-REWRITABLE VALID W/WIN98 & WIN ME
12X40X VARIABLE SPEED DVD-ROM W/SOFTWARE DECODER
1.44MB 3.5" FLOPPY DRIVE INTEGRATED
64MB DDR NVIDIA NV15 GEFORCE 256 AGP WITH TV OUT
17IN MICRON 700EX (16.0IN VIEWABLE, .26 MM DP)
CREATIVE LABS SOUND BLASTER LIVE VALUE
ALTEC LANSING ACS33/ 3 PIECE SPEAKER SYSTEM
56K V.90 PCI MODEM
LOGITECH WHEEL MOUSE
ATX MINI TOWER W/FRONT USB
MICROSOFT WINDOWS ME
MICROSOFT OFFICE 2000 SB
NEXT BUSINESS DAY ON-SITE 1ST. YEAR (DT)

 

[john433i]

That Micron system looks realy good, but I'd still rather build my own. Its not that hard - just get some help from someone who has built a computer. I'm 14 and I've built a few computers already, so its not that hard.

 

[kregger]

This is what I come up with at CompuCheap for $2058.80:
Microstar K7TPro Socket A motherboard
Processor upgrade is Upgrade to 1Ghz TBird
Heavy duty ball bearing fan & heatsink
UDMA IDE controllers & high speed serial and parallel ports
USB Ports
Enlight Mid-tower ATX case
Enermax EG351P-VE (FC) power supply
256MB, PC133 SDRAM (Upgradable to 768MB)
30GB ata66 IDE hard drive
1.44MB floppy drive
DVD
Plextor 10x12x32 CDRW
Voodoo3-3000, 16MB AGP, TV Out
17" flat-screen SVGA .27dp NI monitor
SB Live! Value MP3+
60 watt PMPO speakers
USR V.90 PCI d/f/v hardware modem
105 key enhanced keyboard (PS/2)
Microsoft compatible mouse (PS/2)
Windows Millennium installed with manual and CD
Microsoft Home Pak (Works, Money, Encarta, Picture It!)

 

[LXi]

Shockwave:

Please get rid of that title, we're dont come out here to get somebody, if you're looking for entertainment, go elsewhere.



kregger:

Very nice setup for $2000, but couple of flaws, first of all why a 17"? For $2k you should definitely go for a 19". And a pathetic Voodoo3 3000? You deserve better. The MSI K7T Pro, ask Russ if they carry the Pro2, you might want that because it supports multiplier adjustment.

 

[AMB]

Abit KT7
1Ghz TBird
Tai Sol HSF
Fong Kai FK-320
Crucial 256MB, PC133 SDRAM CAS 2
30GB Maxtor 7,200 RPM
Pioneer 105S
Plextor 12/10/32A
GeForce 2 GTS (Creative or Hercules)
17" Monitor (Sony ? )
SB Live!
Diamond Supra Express 56i Pro
Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer,

That is what I think that you should get, that is, if you are going to build it yourself

 

[kregger]

Here's what I came up with at Neo Computers for $2427 shipped:
Microsoft IntelliMouse
30.0 GB 7200RPM Maxtor
200MHz Abit KT7 Socket A ATX
Plextor PX-W1210TI 12x10x32
1.44 MB Floppy
ATX MidTower Case
Midiland 800W 5pc Surround System
KDS AV-7TF 17" .24dp
Diamond SupraMax 56K V.90 PCI w/voice
Windows Millennium
Microsoft Works 2000
1100MHz AMD Athlon K7 Thunderbird
Microsoft Natural Elite Keyboard
Three Years Onsite Warranty Service
256MB PC133 SDRAM Memory
Pioneer 105S 16X/40X DVD 10078 1 129
Creative Labs GeForce2 DDR 32MB
Creative Labs S.B. Live! Value MP3+ 10498

Looks pretty much like AMB's suggestions